Author's Note

Decided to set this around the time of the last problem. I wanted all the characters from the series to be present and accounted for. Seemed like the best time for that to be the case. Twilight's wise and powerful by canon's end. Multiply that a million times over and you'll have an idea of how she'll turn out here.

Monition

Twilight trudged through the castle halls, heading towards the kitchen where Spike had already prepared breakfast. Violet circles lined the bottoms of her eyes, her mane messy and unkempt. In her state of disrupted sleep, she had little motivation to tame the strands down. The dragon had seen her in rough shape before, but this took the cake. She was exhausted beyond anything words could describe.

"Woah! What happened to you!?"

"Long night." the Alicorn said groggily. She wasn't quite sure how to explain the inner machinations of her subconscious. That girl...That world...They felt so real...So familiar...How were they connected, and what was their relation to Equus? None of what she saw made sense. Peering into the corners of her memory, there was only one logical conclusion. The child was human. No other explanation existed.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Just weird dreams I guess. I saw something that looked like a creature from the forbidden archives, but it was different from what I remember - more futuristic. She looked like a girl around the same age as you: maybe a little younger."

"What kind of stuff did you read in there, anyway? I know Celestia swore you to secrecy, but I wouldn't have told anyone."

"I didn't know what to make of it. It was a lot more unnerving than I anticipated."

"That bad, huh?"

"You remember that day, don't you? It was shortly before the princess sent us here to live in Ponyville. I was the only one she trusted to use the archives' knowledge wisely. After I returned, she insisted I never speak of their contents to anyone. She wanted us to make friends and live our lives as peacefully as possible. Given everything that's happened, I understand why. I saw this strange look in her eyes - one that's never appeared before or since. It almost looked like..."

"Like what?"

"Pity..."

Twilight stared down at her plate. Memories of Canterlot flooded her mind. Everything Celestia did was for the good of her people. Twilight loved and respected her immensely, but she couldn't shake the feeling their way of life was disingenuous. Something about it seemed inauthentic and forced, but the former librarian couldn't explain why. She only knew half their history had been built on a lie.

"So...What exactly was it you saw? I can't just let it go after you brought it up like that, especially seeing the condition you're in. It takes a lot to rattle you this badly."

Twilight sighed in defeat. Her sibling had a point. She'd already gone back on her word. There was no use hiding it now.

"A long time ago, Star Swirl's predecessors discovered a portal to other worlds - a mirror between dimensions connected by a pathway referred to as the astral plane. They traversed numerous galaxies across time and space, documenting their findings for scientific research. Eventually, they stumbled across a planet called Earth in the Milky Way, Like Equus, it was inhabited by a variety of complex organisms. However, they discovered earthlings were plagued by a genetic mutation - one which impaired their cognitive capabilities. Supposedly, they committed acts so unspeakable it's unknown today what they were. The most dangerous among them are homo sapiens, or human beings. Last I knew, they were a race of of bipedal hominoids who evolved from large primates."

"Giant monkeys!? You gotta be pullin' my leg!"

"They don't look like what you're probably imagining. I'd show you a portrait, but obviously I don't have the scrolls on me."

"So the girl you were dreaming about was a human? What did she look like?"

"She had bright blonde hair tied in a ponytail. She had her eyes covered underneath her bangs. It was almost impossible to tell what she was thinking. She also wore clothes made out of fabrics I've never seen before."

"I guess it has been a long time. They've probably changed a lot since then. So have we. It makes sense they'd look different nowadays."

"Why am I dreaming about them, though? I thought it might be because I was afraid of them, but I wasn't of her. In fact...She seemed kind...Just like Fluttershy..."

"Coincidence maybe? You think they're still around?"

"I don't know. Like you said, it's been ages. A lot probably happened between then and now."

"I wouldn't worry too much. Based on what you've said, none of them ever found the portal. So long as we never cross paths, we should be in the clear."

"Still, if the princess is showing signs of alarm, there may still yet be cause for concern."

"I'd wait to hear from her before jumping to any conclusions. For all we know, everything's fine and you're just flipping out over nothing. Wouldn't be the first time."

Twilight smiled weakly. Her brother's calm demeanor put her mind at ease. The beach ball incident was enough to call her sanity into question. The last thing she needed was to further cement her reputation as an escaped mental patient. Once was more than enough.

Somewhere, on the other side of the mirror, a teen girl hung up her phone call. It wasn't the usual conversation she'd come to expect. The youngest of her allies, Emily, had narrowly avoided death. Emily's mother Chelsea dialed the adolescent in a panic, confused as to how her daughter was still alive. Maria had no answer. She could only ponder behind the veil of her raven black shroud, eyes betraying emotion rooted firmly in her essence. Downstairs, the Drake found her pet relaxing by the kitchen. The kitten's fur reflected that of a black hole, his own orbs barely visible. Maria lifted him into her arms, stroking his figure softly. The love she felt ran deeper than fear or pain; perhaps even her own.

"Hey, buddy. You got enough food an water?"

The feline mewed in response. His dishes were full, but Maria's gentle nature compelled her to ask out of care. He seemed healthy enough, but the Drake had to be sure.

"I have to go out for a while. I'll be back soon, okay? I love you..."

Maria returned Ian to his original position. While the two were unable to communicate verbally, he understood her all the same. She left the room, gathering her school supplies. Adjusting her headphones, she began the trek south towards Americus-Sumter High. Melodic riffs, pounding drums, and throaty gutturals pulsated through her auditory canals. She could only hope the beasts up north wouldn't devour her friends in the Drake's absence. Still, the fact Emily survived meant they saw something in her - something they couldn't bring themselves to kill. Maybe this time, hope would hold through. No one would know for sure until the moment of truth arrived, and it was fast approaching. Soon, Equus and Earth would locked hoof-in-hand, marching in tandem to beat back the darkness. Celestia prayed in solitude, pleading their alliance would hold once the latter's crimes came to light. Chrysalis had proven forgiveness extended so far, and humanity's quest for atonement was sure to stretch significantly further. Twilight's friends would all come face-to-face with an uncomfortable truth. Evil was out there, and it would never stop - never relent. Not until it was put to rest. God only knew how long that would last...